How to Earn an Accelerated Bachelor's or Master's Degree

An accelerated degree is just like any other Bachelor's or Master's Degree, except that it can be earned in a much shorter timeframe and with a much more flexible schedule for the student. Accelerated degree programs are offered throughout the United States by local college and universities. They may be offered both online and at the local college or university or off-site campus.

Accelerated Degree Programs are specifically designed with working adults in mind. These programs offer individuals who are currently in the workforce a great opportunity to further their education and skill set to improve their future careers. Most of the students enrolled in Accelerated Degree Programs have been in the workforce for several years and continue to work their regular jobs while obtaining their degree.

In the past it was often difficult for working adults to go back to school because financial necessity required that they work during the day while traditional Bachelor's or Master's programs were scheduled. Currently there are a wide variety of ADP offerings that allow working adults to continue their education and also meet their current life and financial responsibilities.

While the most common degrees offered will tend to focus on majors with direct application to the workforce, others are most certainly offered. The best way to find out is to contact your local college and university's registrar's office and ask for details on their Accelerated Degree Program offerings.

Here is a list of just some of the majors that are offered in Accelerated Degree Programs:
Behavioral Science -- usually includes a general background in liberal arts and can include a concentration in Psychology and other human disciplines
Healthcare Administration -- prepares students for work in a management career in a health care setting
Human Resource Management -- provides an introduction to the challenges facing HR management and other areas of responsibility common to an HR career
Business Administration -- introduction to the ins and outs of business. Focus and specialization in developing the skill set for students to become effective leaders and managers

As mentioned earlier, ADP schedules are usually quite flexible because they are designed for individuals whose daytime schedules do not allow them to attend classes during the weekday. Of course the exact schedule will vary from college to college, however, Accelerated Degree Programs will likely meet one time per week. Depending on the program this can be at night during the weekday or on a Saturday. Each class will likely be much longer in length than your traditional university class. The upside to this is that you are able to finish each course in a much shorter timeframe.

The traditional method for scheduling classes is also different in Accelerated Degree Programs. Usually one course at a time is taken instead of signing up for multiple classes. It is possible to earn up to three credit hours in as little as 4 to 6 weeks.

Because many Accelerated degree programs focus on collaboration and teamwork, classes are typically held on campus instead of over the Internet. There will likely be an emphasis on group projects and students will be required to participate in group discussions both in class and in online forums.

Colleges and universities offering Accelerated Degree Programs will have different requirements, though generally, they will be quite similar. Some programs will require that you either be a certain age, currently be in the workforce, or have certain prior work experience. It is also common that admissions will require that you have a minimum cumulative GPA on college coursework. Some colleges will require that you have a certain amount of already established and transferable university credit, but this will likely depend on the major you select. For students with less than the required college coursework, some universities will accept high school coursework but will require that your GPA be a bit higher.

If you don't meet the requirements at first, be sure to talk with a counselor in the admissions department. Students who fall below the initial requirements can be evaluated by an admissions committee and may still be eligible for provisional admission.

Accelerated degree programs typically cost between $15,000 and $25,000. Of course, this can vary significantly depending on your location and the college you will be attending, so be sure to research and compare various programs that are offered near you.

When researching Accelerated Degree Programs in your area be sure to find out if the programs count previously completed coursework towards their degree. It may be possible to place out of some of the core classes.

Many adult accelerated degrees qualify for financial aid. For students with exceptional need, a Federal Pell Grant may be awarded. Talk to your colleges financial aid departments to see if you qualify.
Student loans are of course available. If you do need to take out a loan to fund your education, there are several types of student loans to choose from. Subsidized federal loans are awarded based on financial need and the federal government subsidizes the interest while you attend school. Unsubsidized federal loans are available to students without financial need at a fixed rate, however you'll be charged interest from the time the loan is dispersed until it is paid in full. Private loans are also available, but financially are the least attractive. Interest will be charged from the time the loan is dispersed and paid in full and the vast majority of private loans have a variable interest rate unlike the federal student loans. During economic conditions when interest rates are low, these can often have interest rates lower than federal student loans, however inevitably interest rates will rise over time. Because student loans are usually repaid over a 20 to 30 year period, there is a good chance your monthly loan payments will increase as interest rates fluctuate.

If you have decided to take the plunge and enroll in an Accelerated Degree Program, naturally you'll be interested in methods and techniques to improve your success. Here is a list of some helpful tips and techniques for making your accelerated education more fruitful.

Attend All of Your Classes

While this is crucial in traditional college programs, it is even more important in accelerated programs because significantly more material is covered in each class. Missing one class in an accelerated program is the equivalent of missing 2 to 3 days in a traditional program.

Catch Up

If you do have to miss a class because of an emergency be sure to connect with someone from your class and find out what you missed. Be sure to talk with your professor, explain why you missed class, apologize if necessary, and ask you missed any assignments.

Participate in Class

Don't be a wallflower and lurk in the back of the room. Participate in discussion with other classmates and your professor. Higher education is about developing critical thinking and communicating your ideas effectively.

Plan Ahead and Complete Assignments on Time

Because you likely be working and going to school at the same time planning and scheduling is crucial to your success. Try to judge the scope of all your projects and assignments and give yourself plenty of time within your schedule to do the necessary tasks.

Take Good Notes

While there are many great methods for taking efficient and effective notes during lectures, spend some time researching these techniques. Your college or university will often have resources available for developing your note taking skills.

Develop Test Taking Strategies

Again, spend a little time developing effective methods and techniques for taking tests. Your college or university will often have resources available for developing your test taking skills.